Liberty Kitchen and Oyster Bar will mark its first year in business on Nov. 23. That may come as a surprise to foodies who see the restaurant - a perfect fit within the Heights vibe - as a joint that's been there much longer.

No doubt that has something to do with the welcoming attitude of Liberty. The huddled masses never had it so good, foodwise: the kitchen rocks grilled oysters, shrimp and blue crab campechana, steak Cobb salad, grilled freshwater trout, a Brooklyn porterhouse with herb butter, burgers and mac 'n' cheese in cast iron skillets. And don't forget the vanilla custard shake on your way out.

Why does the food, ambiance and clientele all work so well together? It's the Heights, man.

"The energy level is unbeatable here," said chef Travis Lenig, who has helmed the kitchen since February. "There's no pretension or judgment here. It's just good people who come."

Lenig, 31, is free to make happy pronouncements about city neighborhoods like the Heights. He's a Houston boy, who aspired to play baseball after high school but put on kitchen whites instead. It wasn't that big a leap: he got the cooking bug from his mother, who ran a catering business while he was growing up. After a culinary education form the Art Institute of Houston, he found work at Rainbow Lodge, Bistro Moderne, Ibiza and Mark's. And while he enjoyed his fine dining days, Lenig said Liberty is more his scene.

Here are some other things you might not know about Travis Lenig:

- I love my neighborhood, the Heights. I live and work in the area - so close I can walk to and from. I am a Houstonian and I love it. It's a cultural melting pot.

- Favorite dive restaurant or bar? Teotihuacan Mexican Café. And Liberty Station, but it's not necessarily a dive bar, but I enjoy getting a great beer and playing bags.

- I read lots of magazines and different cookbooks. I have read Anthony Bourdain's "Kitchen Confidential" about 10 times and it gets better every time.

- When I watch TV it's either Cooking Channel, sports, or "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and "The League."

- My team? Texans!!!! J.J. (Swat) Watt!

- I don't get to travel much, but I would love to go to Barcelona. It's food heaven.

- I recently went to San Francisco and ate at Swan Oyster Depot. Cash only, 14 seats. Unbelievable West Coast oysters and Dungeness crab. It was beautiful. I ate there twice.